Patons Classic Wool (available in Canada) is a merino pure wool. Tension is 20 st=10 cm(4") on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles. Worsted weight is a 4-ply wool/yarn. You would normally use it for sweaters, hats, mitts, afghans, etc. I did a felted bag (first attempt) used Noro Kureyon wool (Japanese) It turned out pretty well.Pattern was very simple done on circular needle. I did the felting in my washer. Put the bag inside a pillow case (otherwise you'll get wooly bits in your machine) along with some old blue jeans and an old mat. Used hot water and found I had to do 3 washings to get the right amount of shrinkage. You might want to start with something like a bag which would be less dependent on shaping than a hat. Especially if the wool is expensive. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Since I knit almost exclusively with yarns that felt, I use this join a lot. It doesn't seem very sturdy to begin with, when it's still wet, but it's strong. Even if you don't get the join fulled all the way, it still works. Using your saliva works better than water, because the enzymes help the yarn full quicker. However, non-knitters look at you VERY strangely when you stick your yarn in your mouth and then rub it together quickly. It's also kind of icky to knit with wet yarn, though, and I have a tendency to let the join dry before knitting over it. ~ Kit

Fouramblues - you will be so happy once you finish one! I love thinking about people I know and trying to come up with a little something they'd like. Martin_ca - it really WAS - but again, I made the body out of wool felt and stuffed him, and then using the felting needles, poked the roving into him. There is another type of wool felting when you make a wire armature for the 'body frame', and then do what is shown in the video. HERE. I haven't tried that yet, but you can bet I will be! I used to be able to take 2 weeks of vacation in October and sew for a craft show, but my position now has me working 10 - 12 hour days this time of year from Oct - January. I still have plenty of supplies and can't wait til I can really get into it again. My dogs have customized more than one craft, but that one really hurt, as I loved that squirrel. I can't blame them though; I sit at the same table in here to re-stuff and repair the dog toys they tear apart to get the squeakers out that I do my craft sewing from. I never thought to put it up out of their reach when I stopped sewing that night, and went to bed, one of them plucked it right off the table and had his way with it, then the other two joined in, I'm sure. :-( My guess is that the initiator was Riley, who did this in my daylight basement a few years ago, when he found ONE down pillow form.

I'm having a hellacious time trying to reply to you. I've put in a post with photos, and it just won't post! Check your messages and see if there is something there! I'll try one more time without the two pics I put in the post - Yay, Ida! You're right - it's stabbing wool into shapes with barbed needles. The needles come in various sizes; I use a 36 (fairly fine) for most of my 'stuff', but they come in many sizes. I'd suggest that you watch a few videos. Here is a link to some - Needle felting for beginners Because I have crafted for most of my life, I didn't watch any, and just dove right in. I did buy a book AFTER I started called Painting With Wool by Dani Ives, 16 projects to needle felt. I 'reserved' a copy before it was published, and paid $24.99. You can get it now on Amazon here for $11.15! Dani Ives book The only thing I've made from the book are some of these 'Bunny Brooches' for friends. I like to do animals more than anything else, and there is also a Panda in a hoop in the book, shown below my bunny brooch. A good way to start, if you are still interested after watching a few videos, would be to buy a kit. There are some on Etsy HERE I recommend a kit, as it will have the needles, the felting pad, and the wool colors that you'll need.